Tuesday morning saw the arrival of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Lahore. Upon visiting Allama Iqbal’s tomb, he emphasized his unique bond with the Pakistani people.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz received Raisi and his entourage at the Allama Iqbal International Airport on the second day of their three-day official trip. This is the first visit of this type by a head of state since the general elections on February 8.
Iranian consul general in Lahore Mehran Movahed, Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, and Inspector General of Police PTV News reports that among those who welcomed him was Dr. Usman Anwar.
In attendance at the event were Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, together with provincial ministers Uzma Bukhari, Mujtaba Shujeet Rehman, Khawaja Sulieman Rafiq, Bilal Yasin, and Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, along with senior province minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.
Next, the president of Iran went to the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal and gave Fateha and placed a floral wreath.
Speaking at the event, Raisi stated that he did not feel at all alien to Pakistani culture and that the two countries were maintained connected by a unique set of feelings and connections with Pakistani people.
I wanted a public demonstration to be conducted so I could speak to the people, but the conditions were so onerous that it was not feasible to make that happen, he stated.
Expressing gratitude for the revolutionary spirit among the people there, Raisi remarked, I say my greetings to the people of Pakistan and Lahore on behalf of the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The president of Iran emphasized how Allama Iqbal, being a very inspirational figure, was a very significant figure for Iran. He also expressed gratitude to the Pakistani government and people for their robust stand against Zionist forces, which they have adopted with Iran.
Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, the Khateeb of Badshahi Mosque, reportedly offered special prayers for the Palestinians in Gaza and for the improvement of Pak-Iran ties, according to Radio Pakistan.
According to the article, Raisi expressed his appreciation for Allama Iqbal’s literary legacy in the visitors’ book and mentioned that he was also informed about the current restoration work being done at Lahore’s historical landmarks, especially those in the Old Walled City.
Later, according to Radio Pakistan, Raisi visited Punjab Governor Bulgur Rehman at the Governor House and they talked about issues of common interest.
According to the source, Governor Rahman also gave a luncheon in honor of the president and his delegation.
The Foreign Office (FO) stated that Raisi will go to Karachi to engage with the provincial leadership after meeting with CM Maryam. The University of Karachi will also bestow upon him an honorary doctorate degree, according to Radio Pakistan.
Today, Tuesday, the governments of Punjab and Sindh declared municipal holidays in the districts of Lahore and Karachi, respectively, to prevent any potential disturbance to the people ahead of the arrival of foreign dignitaries, Raisi included. The Sindh government has declared that from April 22 to April 28, drones are absolutely forbidden in the Karachi division.
Early on Tuesday morning, Raisi wrote on X: There is a significant scope for expansion and promotion of relations between Iran and Pakistan due to their commonality.
Raisi first-day high-level meetings
The day before, Raisi had a packed day in Islamabad, where the two sides decided to increase trade to $10 billion over the next five years.
Following his arrival in the capital, he held a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and subsequently gave a joint news conference, pledging to enhance high-level cooperation between the two nations.
After their meeting, Raisi promised to improve ties with President Asif Ali Zardari. The Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, and the Iranian President discussed border security and regional stability.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had also called Raisi, even though Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Iranian colleague Dr. Ahmad Vahidi agreed that both countries should prohibit terrorist groups in their own countries.
Eight agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (Mou’s) for cooperation in a variety of disciplines were separately signed by the neighbors. Additionally, PM Shehbaz and Raisi renamed Iran Avenue, the freshly built section of Islamabad’s 11th Avenue, and officially opened it.
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